WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – Aug. 9, 2016 – Just when everyone thought the race was over it was Gary Tomkins who made a last lap pass over Erick Rudolph to capture the Super DIRTcar Series Hall of Fame 100 at Weedsport Speedway and take home the $10,000 paycheck.

“That last restart the tires didn’t feel right so I went to the bottom, got my rhythm back and caught back up to Erick,” Tomkins said in victory lane. “I stuck it into one that one time and it stuck and I thought ‘oh boy here we go.’ I thought maybe if Erick gave me room on the front stretch we could do it and he did.”

Rudolph and Stewart Friesen brought the 30-car field to the initial green.

Rudolph held on strong to position No. 1 over Friesen as Friesen worked the outside lane to chase him down.

Rudolph had two car lengths over Friesen as Rudolph crept up on lapped traffic on lap 11 but was soon to be halted on lap 13 as the first caution of the night was brought out.

Gary Tomkins took advantage of the lap 19 restart and gained third position from Jimmy Phelps.

15th starter Danny Johnson made his way into the top ten by lap 30.

At the halfway mark Rudolph led the way over Friesen, Tomkins, Jimmy Phelps and Matt Sheppard.

Sheppard snuck passed Phelps on the bottom for fourth as Phelps pushed up on lap 51 then leaving the door open for Billy Decker to slide by Phelps to take fifth spot.

Rudolph once again caught up to the back of the field on lap 58.

Johnson worked his way around the outside to capture fifth position from Decker on lap 60.

Phelps surrendered a top ten spot on lap 63 as he was forced to pit due to problems in the front end of his 98H machine.

Tomkins slid to the outside into turns three and four and drove passed Friesen to take over second position on lap 77 and soon drove away from Friesen as he chased down Rudolph.

Tomkins patiently inched his way up to Rudolph’s rear bumper with fifteen laps to go.

Tomkins was looking to the topside as Rudolph held tight to the bottom.

Rudolph and Tomkins caught the back of the field with just eight laps remaining allowing Tomkins to close the gap even more but was then halted as the fifth caution of the night was brought out, forcing the field to tighten back up.

Friesen and Sheppard battled back and forth for the third spot as Johnson jumped in to join the battle as Rudolph and Tomkins pulled away from the field.

Tomkins once again found the rear bumper of Rudolph with just two laps remaining as he dove to the outside giving everything he could.

Tomkins made a last lap charge by diving to the outside of Rudolph and sailing away to take the Hall of Fame 100 victory. Tuesday nights Hall of Fame 100 was Tomkins first Super DIRTcar Series win since 2008.

The top five respectively were Tomkins, Rudolph, Friesen, Sheppard and Johnson.

“Al Heinke has done an awesome job with this facility. One thing he didn’t change was the track,” Tomkins said. “It’s been the same over the years and when the track would get slick that’s when I used to make a lot of money, in the middle of the track. When it stuck I thought, ‘lets see if we can run it like we used to’ and it did. It rolled around there pretty good.

It means a lot to be a Hall of Fame champion. I can’t thank everyone enough who helped us out. I grew up here so it means a lot to win here.”

Runner up, Erick Rudolph led all laps except the very last one. He was in complete shock by Tomkins last lap pass on the outside.

“I don’t know where he came from. Eight laps before with that last restart I saw him but was able to pull away,” Rudolph said. “I started on the bottom, wasn’t getting passed and didn’t seem like I was getting much pressure so I stayed down there. I saw him coming on the outside. He must have found something up there.”

Stewart Friesen who is currently in a very close battle with Sheppard for the points title limped his 44 machine to a third place finish.

“It’s another great night for the Halmar team. We had a right front shock blow out about halfway through so we were just hanging on there best we could,” Friesen said.

“On a challenging track like this tonight it gets the car a little upset. We tried to battle through it and keep our forward momentum best we could.”

Races Notes: 41 modifieds attempted to qualify. 30 modifieds started the 100-lap feature event.Billy Decker set fastest time overall in time trials with a 16.564. Five cautions were brought out during the 100-lap feature. Gary Tomkins last Super DIRTcar Series was back in 2008.

The Super DIRTcar Series will be on a two-week break and will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. for Mr. DIRT Track USA.

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Aug. 9) – Joel Rust had the greatest seat for the best race in the house for most of 25 laps Tuesday night at Hamilton County Speedway.

Little did he know, a short time later it would lead the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified driver to a victory lane celebration as the winner of the Harris Clash.

Rust, who started inside of row two, chased front row starters Chris Abelson and Kelly Shryock for all but three-quarters of a lap in the 25th annual event. Contact between the front-runners allowed Rust to escape to the first Harris Clash win of his career.

Abelson built an early lead while Shryock pursued multiple car-lengths behind him. Shryock closed to within a car-length by lap 10 and searched high and low to work past the leader.

While the former Clash winners engaged in a battle for the lead, Rust cut a half-straightaway deficit into just a couple car-lengths in the waning laps.

Contact between Abelson and Shryock forced Abelson into a spin in the middle of turns one and two just after the field had taken the white flag.

Shryock slowed after the contact while Rust slipped between them and emerged down the back stretch as the leader. He led the final half lap on his way to victory and a $2,000 payday.

Josh Ruby raced his way to second ahead of sixth row starters Richie Gustin and Ryan Ruter. Tim Ward, who qualified through a B feature and started 14th, completed the top five.

“I kept my patience and it worked out,” Rust said in victory lane. “The track started taking rubber and hooking up in turns one and two. In four I couldn’t really gain, so I was just trying to maintain.”

“I was really close to them and kind of stayed back enough in case something happened,” continued the latest qualifier on the 2017 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.

“My initial reaction was to brake,” he said of the incident that provided him the opportunity to steal the lead. “I was on the brakes really, really hard. Luckily Abelson rolled down the track and I was just able to shoot the gap.”

Earlier in the night, Abelson was victorious in the Dash at the Clash, a 10-car event that showcased feature winners at select events leading up to the Harris Clash.

Abelson drew the pole position and was challenged throughout by Ricky Thornton Jr., who led a pair of laps in the middle of the 10-lapper. Abelson ran the top side past Thornton to regain the lead on the sixth circuit on his way to the $500 victory.

Adam Armstrong made it look easy in the 20-lap feature for the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods. From his outside front row start, Armstrong assumed the lead at the drop of the green and quickly pulled away from traffic.

Armstrong’s lead was already most of a straightaway when the race’s lone caution slowed action on lap seven.

On the restart, Armstrong again set sail while Jake Sachau, who restarted fifth, swept to the outside and settled into second by the time the field exited turn two.

Although Sachau pulled away from the rest of the field, Armstrong continued to build his lead.

Armstrong maintained a comfortable advantage by the time he entered slower traffic with two to go. He raced to the victory, picking up the $1,000 winner’s share and leading all 20 laps in the process.

Wednesday’s Modified winner at BVR earns $1,000 and national, regional, state and local track points will be given. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow.

Admission to the grandstand is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and veterans with ID, and kids 12 and under are $2 or free with the donation of a non-perishable food item for the local food bank. Pit passes are $25.

West Liberty, Iowa (August 9, 2016) – Chris Simpson was dominant in his heat race early Tuesday night at West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa. The same good fortune carried over to the feature, and he led the entire way in the Coors Light MLRA Shootout. Simpson’s Tuesday night effort was worth $10,000.

The win is Simpson’s second in two days, fourth of the year and eighth total with the Lucas Oil MLRA.

“It’s a hell of a week, I wish every Monday and Tuesday would start out like this,” commented and excited Simpson. “I just got to thank my crew and fans that stuck behind me. The hours I’ve put in on the car in the last week, with my crew guy being gone, I think have really helped. It made me get under the car and work on it and not just rely on them.”

Tuesday was a homecoming of sorts for Simpson at West Liberty. He and his brother grew up racing at the track. Judging by the size of the Andy’s Frozen Custard Victory Lane celebration, Simpson still has a lot of fans at West Liberty.

Terry Phillips started seventh and did his work early to get through the field. His final spot came on a restart. He closed in on Simpson on a few restarts, but ultimately came home the runner up.

“50 laps is a long race,” said Phillips. “Guys were running over each other. I was just trying to be patient. I could run real hard there and kind of keep up with Chris, but my motor started getting hot. I’d get close to him and (I would get an) air push and jump over the cushion. I finally just slowed down. I didn’t want to burn my motor up. It was a good night for us.”

Jesse Stovall certainly made his third place finish interesting. On a mid-race restart he wound up facing the wrong direction in turn two. At the back of the pack for the restart, Stovall worked through the filed, passing Denny Eckrich late to secure third.

“At the end of the night I knew I probably didn’t have enough car to outrun Simpson,” stated Stovall. “All and all it was a good night. We made it through, so we’ll pack up and head to Minnesota.”

Denny Eckrich put on an awesome show of his own, wheeling from the 17th place starting spot to third, before slipping back one position to fourth. His effort was enough to earn the Casey’s General Stores Hard Charger of the night award.

Eckrich was followed to the finish by his brother Dave, who completed the top five.

Wednesday the series heads north to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota for the first time. The show will pay $5,000 to win.

]]>https://dtrupdates.wordpress.com/2016/08/10/chris-simpson-rules-west-liberty-pockets-20000-with-back-to-back-lucas-oil-mlra-wins/feed/0dtrupdatesMLRAPittman Powers to Third Career Front Row Challenge Victory With National Sprint Leaguehttps://dtrupdates.wordpress.com/2016/08/10/pittman-powers-to-third-career-front-row-challenge-victory-with-national-sprint-league/
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(Photo by Paul Arch)

Inside Line Promotions – OSKALOOSA, Iowa (Aug. 8, 2016) – Daryn Pittman dominated the 21st annual Price Chopper Front Row Challenge on Monday at Southern Iowa Speedway, where he captured his third career triumph at the marquee National Sprint League event that paid $21,000 to win and offered many bonuses.

Pittman was one of 27 drivers from 13 states and Australia to tackle the half-mile oval, where drivers and fans paid tribute to racer Bryan Clauson, who passed away following a race crash last weekend.

Green ribbons were tied on sprint cars and push trucks and many drivers went through the stands during an intermission to collect money for Clauson’s family. Clauson’s sprint car owner, Matt Wood, brought his race car to display and it paced the field during the four wide salute before the main event saw a green flag.

With heavy hearts in the stands and the pits Pittman emerged victorious throughout most of the night. He set quick time to open the action and he won the King of the Hill race to garner the pole position for the 30-lap main event.

Pittman led the first two laps before a caution on Lap 3 for Jason Johnson, who sustained a flat right rear tire while battling just outside the top 10. Brian Brown took advantage of the restart by driving into the lead in turn four on the restart lap.

Brown led the next four laps, which were slowed by three cautions, before Pittman returned the favor by taking the lead on a restart on Lap 7.

“Brown is awfully good,” Pittman said in Victory Lane. “I hit the bottom after the (King of the Hill) race and it felt good. He got by me on the restart. Luckily the bottom slowed up enough the top came back in.”

Brown remained within striking distance until the final caution on Lap 17. However, it was all Pittman the rest of the way as he won by more than four seconds to tie Sammy Swindell atop the event wins list with three triumphs. Pittman also won in 2012 and 2008.

While Pittman pulled away, the battle between drivers running second through eighth was close until the checkered flag. Kerry Madsen earned the runner-up position after passing Brown on Lap 22.

“If there was a way to drive that car harder I don’t know about it,” Madsen said.

Brown held on for third place with Brad Sweet charging from 12th to fourth and National Sprint League points leader Danny Lasoski placing fifth.

Following Pittman’s quick time in qualifying James McFadden, Dakota Hendrickson and Rico Abreu each won a heat race. Cory Eliason captured the B Main, but he scratched from the main event because of mechanical problems.

NATIONAL SPRINT LEAGUE NOTES: Daryn Pittman earned a $200 bonus from Deberg Concrete and a $50 certificate from Slade Shock Technology for setting quick time during time trials. … James McFadden garnered a $100 certificate from Walker Performance Filtration for winning a heat race. … Dakota Hendrickson scored a $100 certificate from Kaeding Performance for winning a heat race. … Rico Abreu captured a certificate from Keizer Aluminum Wheels for winning a heat race. … Sammy Swindell was the So Close Award winner and received a certificate from Rod End Supply for being the highest starting NSL driver who missed the feature redraw. … Cory Eliason powered to the Locked in Award to garner a $100 certificate from Hooker Harness for winning the B Main. … Sheldon Haudenschild picked up a $50 certificate from KSE Racing Products for being the Hard Charger in the A Main. … Eliason was given the Hard Luck Award, which provided a $100 certificate from Ti22 Performance for facing the worst luck of the night.

EVENT CONTINGENCIES: Daryn Pittman was awarded a $500 bonus from Country Builders Construction for setting quick time during qualifying. … James McFadden, Dakota Hendrickson and Rico Abreu received $500 from Country Builders Construction along with a $500 certificate from All Pro Cylinder Heads, a SnowPlow snow pusher from TheSnowPlow.com and a five-pound canister of protein from Nutrishop in Maple Grove, Minn., for winning a heat race. … Pittman garnered $1,000 from TK Concrete for winning the Keith Hutton King of the Hill. … Cory Eliason picked up $500 from Country Builders Construction for winning the B Main. … Sheldon Haudenschild was provided $500 cash from Country Builders Construction and a KSE power steering pump ($500 value) for being the A Main hard charger.

(The top 16 drivers in qualifying and heat race points locked into the A Main with the top eight earning a spot in the King of the Hill event, which drivers were seeded in based on points. The B Main transfer cars tagged the back of the A Main.)

Craig Dollansky – 3 (Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., on May 20 and June 22 and Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 29); Kerry Madsen – 3 (Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on May 28 and June 18 and Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., on July 29); Brian Brown – 2 (Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on June 4 and July 23); Danny Lasoski – 2 (Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on May 21 and Mason City Motor Speedway in Mason City, Iowa, on June 19); Terry McCarl – 2 (I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., on May 6 and Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa, on July 31); Daryn Pittman – 2 (Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., on June 24 and Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Aug. 8); Sammy Swindell – 2 (Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on June 25 and July 1); Ian Madsen – 1 (Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on July 30); and Logan Schuchart – 1 (Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., on July 8).

The National Sprint League was established in 2015 as a premier 410ci winged sprint car series focusing on the Midwest. In 2016, the series branches into the 360ci winged sprint car ranks with the GoMuddy.com National Sprint League 360 Sprint Car Series as well as multiple regions across the United States. For the latest news and information among all the NSL entities, visit http://www.NationalSprintLeague.com.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

Farley, Iowa (August 8, 2016) – Farley Speedway’s event represents one of the most unpredictable fields on the entire Lucas Oil MLRA schedule. Monday’s stop was no exception. Mason Zeigler rolled from the DirtonDirt.com pole and led early, prior to Stovall sliding him, in three and four.

From that point a fierce battle for the lead ensued between Stovall and Chris Simpson, until an oil leak forced Stovall from contention and off the track early. Simpson lead the rest of the way, but he was not without challenges as Ryan Gustin nearly caught him late in lapped traffic.

Once Simpson cleared Jay Johnson, whom he put a lap down, it was just a matter of clicking off the remaining laps. The win is Simpson’s third of the year and largest in terms of purse money this season too.

“I just kept the car straight and tried not to bend it as much as Stovall was, up there on that cushion,” said Simpson in Andy’s Frozen Custard Victory Lane. “It’s been a long month. We’ve run good and we’ve won races and then we’ve run in the back. It was a complete different setup (tonight) than what we usually run. It’s cool to get $10,000 here tonight.”

Gustin had his work cut out for him after finishing fifth in his heat race.

“We’ll take it starting 14th,” commented Gustin of his move through the front half of the field, to the runner up position. “Chris did a good job, he’s been around this place a lot, so second to him here ain’t bad. Hopefully we can get one here tomorrow.”

New Waverly, Texas pilot Tyler Erb, dropped in following a busy weekend racing and ran well all evening. He completed the top three finishing positions.

Jason Rauen and Zeigler were fourth and fifth respectively.

With Stovall falling out of the feature early, Terry Phillips gained 14 championship points on him in the feature. When you factor heat race points in the equation, it was a net gain of 10 for Phillips Monday evening.

Tuesday night the tour rolls on to the West Liberty Raceway on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds. It’s the second of three Keith Simmons promoted tracks. $10,000 is once again up for grabs in another complete show.